ABSTRACT
This chapter, which discusses these successes and failures, is divided into three sections. It examines the conditions of women and the promotion of gender equality in Asia. The chapter analyses gender in the context of the European Union's (EU's) relations with Asia. It shows if and how EU policies on gender are really translated into action, with particular reference to the role of the regional and country strategy papers and a few key projects to mainstream gender in development. EU development cooperation in South Asia has focused very much on the provision of emergency assistance and relief for victims of natural disasters and armed conflict following the establishment in 1992 of the European Community Humanitarian Office. Three policy objectives were identified: first, increasing the EU's economic presence in the region; second, developing and extending political dialogue; last, assisting countries in their poverty reduction efforts.
